The two teams are among the most successful teams in Categoría Primera A, with Atlético Nacional the most successful in Colombia in terms of total trophies won, compared to Independiente Medellín, who instead are characterized by their loyal fanbase and their involvement in numerous league finals since the turn of the 21st century.
The first time the two clubs met was during the 1948 Campeonato Profesional on 12 September 1948, a 3–0 victory by Independiente Medellín.
In 2004, Medellín and Nacional qualified for the Torneo Apertura finals by winning their respective semi-final groups.
The second leg, played on 27 June 2004, ended in a 0–0 draw, thus giving the red-clad club its third title and second in three years.
On 27 June 2011, exactly seven years after the 2004 Apertura final, Medellín thrashed Nacional 5–1 in a match valid for the 2011 Copa Colombia.
In the second leg Nacional bounced back from this adverse score, winning 2–0 and qualifying to the finals, which they later won to claim their 15th title.
[4] Their fans are characterized as very loyal, due to the long trophy droughts the club has been through, and they usually create large tifos before derby matches.